Calculating your UC and CSU GPA

The GPAs you use to apply for private, non-UC/CSU schools are different from the UC/CSU GPAs. Trying to figuring out how to calculate the UC/CSU GPA is frustrating! I have worked with parents that have doctorate degrees in physics who cannot figure it out. So, let me try to break it down in 400 words or less.

Although UC/CSU reports the GPA’s from 10-12th grade, they only take your 10th and 11th grade marks (CSU considers 12th grade marks as well). UC/CSU only takes A-G courses to calculate your GPA.

How do you know if your course is an A-G course? Check the UC/CSU list of A-G courses for your school

If you take a course outside of your school (community college, private school or online) you can also check to see if that course will count towards your A-G GPA

Since, it’s only 10th/11th grade that is used for the GPA calculation that means that 9th grade doesn’t count right? WRONG. Your grades from 9th are used to meet subject requirements for UC/CSU. Also UC/CSU look 9th grade and you want them to be impressed so don’t slack.

Here is where more confusion may come in…How do UC/CSU’s calculate H/AP/IB credit into your GPA?

UC/CSU cap their weighted GPA giving weight to only 4 year long H/AP/IB courses

Those courses have to be approved weighted courses. You can find that info in the above website

They only use weighted courses from 10th and 11th grade

They only use a max of 2 from the 10th grade

Confused yet?

The most common question I get after I explain this is “Which classes do the UC/CSU’s use to calculate my weighted GPA if I have more than 4 year long H/AP/IB courses?” The question is simple when you do the math. Look at my example below for explanation.

Honors Literature – A This is used for the weighted GPA so it is assigned 5 points

IB Visual Arts – C This is used for the weighted GPA so it is assigned 3 points

AP US History – AThis is not used for the weighted GPA (it’s the 5th weighted class) so it is assigned 4 points

Total points = 12. Weighted GPA = 4.0

Honors Literature – A This is used for the weighted GPA so it is assigned 5 points

AP US History – AThis is used for the weighted GPA so it is assigned 5 points

IB Visual Arts – CThis is NOT used for the weighted GPA (it’s the 5th weighted class) so it is assigned 2 points

Total points = 12. Weighted GPA = 4.0

It doesn’t matter which classes the colleges use, it’s an extra grade point that is added to your GPA, it does not matter if it is coming from a C grade or an A grade.

Author: Stacey Ho

Stacey has over ten years experience in college admissions counseling. She graduated from UCLA and then received a Master’s in School Counseling from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also obtained a certification in College Admissions Advising from UC Berkeley Extension. She is passionate about helping first-generation college students.